Your Opinions

Keep tobacco away from kids

My daughter goes to Holy Cross Academy in Oneida. She is a part of a group called Reality Check. Reality Check is a New York State youth run group against the tobacco industry and how they market their products to children using animals, bright colors and large displays in a child’s view.

Did you know that 480,000 Americans die each year from tobacco related illnesses and that the average age of a new smoker is just 13 years old? As a parent of a 14 year old, I cannot imagine her smoking cigarettes now. I hope that we can work together to prevent children and teens from ever using tobacco. For more information visit seenenoughtobacco.org or realitycheckofny.com.

Schumer must show more respect

An open letter to Senator Schumer’s wife, Iris Weinshall. Dear Ms. Weinshall, You do not know me, but I’m hoping you will read this letter and do me, someone who cares deeply about his country, a favor. I am and have been a New Yorker my entire life. I have always strived to treat others with decency and respect both publicly and in private. A father of four, grandfather of 13, I’m very much concerned with what is happening with some in our Congress. Bear with me, I’ll get to that a little further on.

Two of our four children (Keith, a Marine, and Mark, Army) have fought in the Middle East multiple times. Unlike Taylor Morris, they were fortunate to always return safely home to their families. So, here is where the favor comes in. I am urging you to get on your computer and Google “youtube Taylor Morris.” Then watch “A soldier’s love story.” It will bring you to tears, and rightfully so. Why am I asking you to do this? Well, I’ll tell you. Taylor Morris and every other service person who has ever put on a uniform and put his or her life on the line for our county, many of them losing their lives, deserves, at the very least to have our elected representatives act in a decent, honest, straightforward and respectful manner both in public and in private.

That brings me to your husband, and I will admit, for me right now to control my anger is very difficult. For years I have watched Chuck Schumer deliberately demagogue issue after issue, and publicly call people unsavory names. I’ve seen him knowingly lie about and disparage others simply because they are not on his side of the political aisle or because they hold a different political view than does he. And now that he has become the leader of the opposition he has become even worse. It is happening almost daily.

Hopefully, after watching “A Soldier’s Love Story” you will be moved enough to have a discussion with your husband about his professional conduct. And it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have him view the video also. If he can shed tears over refugees being delayed at an airport, certainly Taylor Morris will bring on a deluge. And maybe, just maybe he will be moved enough to alter his conduct. Sadly, I doubt it, but I can always hope — and pray. And one last suggestion. Encourage him to watch “Hymn to the Fallen” at least once each and every day, especially before he steps up in front of a TV camera and behind a microphone — it can’t hurt, and who knows, it might help.